North Bellmore lying for 11 years

During the trial last month, North Bellmore misrepresented me with lies repeatedly as they have been doing for the past 11 years since I was terminated in June of 2005. The lies and misrepresentations started at the end of my 2nd year at North Bellmore, as Wolk and Hirschfield gave me a derogatory "End of Year Evaluation", full of lies, stating that they had come to their conclusions by "Observations" of me and my delinquent teaching behavior. No such "Observations" exist!

The lies went on through many legal proceedings that took place afterwards. There were lies and deceptions at May 5th, 2005 Board Meeting where my packets to the board were very likely hidden from the board members by Supt. Mucci - (see Teacher Advocacy Long Island). They lied at the PERB hearing, but it took more than a year for Judge Blassman to make her ruling of a "dismissal". They lied to the NYS Commissioner of Education in a lawsuit that took 2 years or more for the Commissioner to come up with his decision of "dismissal". They lied at my NYS Dept of Human Rights suit, and all they had to do was tell the "investigation" that I was a bad teacher. However, it took the SDHR 3 years, I believe to render their "dismissal". However, since it was filed jointly with the EEOC, I was finally given the right to sue for age discrimination in a Federal Case in 2008. With all of North Bellmore's lies and delays, etc., it took 8 years of legal work to come to trial. Plenty of time to come up with a plethora of more lies. Hence volumes and volumes of legal documents.

None of this was necessary. They could have got rid of me prior to June 30, 2005 if they just adhered to the law! Not a nice thing to do, but they could have done it, since I was an untenured teacher, and it is perfectly "lawful" to treat untenured teachers like dogmeat, as long as you do it nicely and legally and maybe throw them a bone. But North Bellmore could not even do that!

It should also be mentioned here that one of the main jobs of a superintendent is to avoid lawsuits, at least in New York, anyway. These districts have become so arrogant and sloppy in their ways, and their "entitlement" that "due diligence" and laws don't apply to them. If their main job is to "avoid lawsuits", then obviously they have not done a good job, have they? I would estimate that something close to $800,000 has been spent on legal fees to keep Dania Hall, music teacher, out of North Bellmore. It might also be noted at this point, why has my case lasted for 11 years, if I don't really have a good case?? What have they been trying to cover up for 11 years?

It should again be mentioned that in New York State, we have "At Will Employment" for teachers. The School districts here enjoy great latitude in terminating an untenured teacher. They can legally fire a teacher if they don't like her blue hair, for instance. It's so easy. They could have terminated me in a way that WOULD NOT have ruined my career, my future and my life at age 59, in a manner so heinus that it would also disable any future attempts for me to get work. They destroyed my career that I had worked and studied for, as a single mom for more than decade of my life at Queens College. They did not offer me the Juul Agreement (let me stay on for another year), nor the opportunity for me to resign. They did it all through malice, deceit and lies, fraud and misrepresentations of me for 11 years!

Superintendent Mucci was the new superintendent who came aboard in my 3rd and final year, the I was anticipating tenure, NOT the scarlet letter of Termination instead of Tenure as I completed my 3rd year. He made it all possible. (to be continued)

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Link for Teacher Advocacy (Part 1)

Below please find the link for the Teacher Advocacy Long Island site, Part One, daily entries, starting from after the trial.

Please see the following link for Part One of this series

My Work is not Done

No, on second thought, I don't think I'll do away with myself - that would make North Bellmore too happy. Then I would be terminated, for good. "What a relief", they would probably say. Then they would have accomplished not only eliminating my career, my retirement, my right to work and make a living, my name, my reputation and my future, and my purpose in life - they would have finally got rid of my presence, for good.

No, I think I still have work to do, concerning North Bellmore.

Today I will "illustrate" how one must play the game similar to "Whack-a-Mole" when dealing with lies that North Bellmore has come up with, spontaneously, since 2005, since yours truly has the "burden of proof" didn't she?

Trying to keep up with the lies invented by North Bellmore is like "Whack-a-Mole" - once you prove one statement is a lie, through depositions and testimony, you are constantly faced with another popping up, over, and over. Once one has been whacked, out pops another lie. Hence, your case might last for years and years! They don't have to prove the lies they invent. Guess who has to prove they're not true? Whack-a-Mole!

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The "Tenure Meeting That Never Happened"

Today I would like to talk about the alleged North Bellmore "Tenure Meeting" to decide my tenure, either pro or against, that never took place. However, district wide perjury and false testimony supporting Mucci's claim that such a "tenure meeting" took place has gone on for 11 years! And audaciously, this perjury went on again, at my trial May 16, 2016-to May 20, 2016.

Let's start where last instances of perjury took place - at my trial - with Mucci's 3 fraudulent e-mails, as I have explained in Part I of Teacher Advocacy Long Island - see link below

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Marilyn's Famous 2005 "Observation"

June 19, 2016

Today I would like to discuss the infamous Marilyn Hirshsfield and her infamous "Observation" which I believe she crafted, in collusion with Mucci over a month's time to get me fired. The other principals who observed me took only a few days to a week to write it up for a Post Observation Conference. But Marilyn needed over a month to collude with Mucci to invent proper legal reasons to fire me. It was crafted, almost word for word, with the "list of reasons in the past to terminate a teacher" or more commonly referred to as the "smoking gun memo" to get the older teacher fired.

It also should be noted that I only spent ONE DAY out of the 6 day schedule in Marilyn's School - Newbridge School. That would be 1/6 of the time I spent teaching at North Bellmore. Nevertheless, in North Bellmore's free-form type of "Administration", Marilyn set herself up to be my primary "supervisor", and thus carry the greatest weight in her vote for my tenure or tenure denial. She could do this because their was no Music Chairman or Arts Director at North Bellmore, as I had experienced in many other school districts on Long Island. So I was rare meat for predators like Marilyn. She smelled blood.

No story could be complete without this "piece of work" written by another "piece of work". Please see the following image:

Marilyn's Hatchet Job page 1

Marilyn's Hatchet Job Page 2

Marilyn's Hatchet Job page 2

Marilyn's Hatchet Job page 2

Marilyn's Hatchet Job - page 1

Analysis of Page 1

This is the first page of Marilyn's Observation of 2005, written about a month before Mucci recommended my termination. You will note that by page 4 Marilyn's comments disintegrate into a pure hatchet job, criticizing absolutely everything I did as a teacher, her personal critique of my behavior, and the description of me as a teacher with absolutely NO redeeming qualities.

Marilyn had NEVER observed me before this. It was common practice for a teacher to receive 3 observations during a school year. I had received NONE from anybody until my 3rd and final year. Where was Marilyn, with all her wisdom to impart for the first two years of my probationary period?

No, this "Observation" was for one purpose, and one purpose only. To get me fired. All my other Observations from 3 other principals were excellent! My observations from Fran Bennett, from Mike Wolk, from Larry Anderson were all glowing. But this was the only one Mucci was interested in. Marilyn's only objective to "Observe" me was to get me terminated.

Before we start, note that Marilyn has absolutely NO musical experience, has no musical background or credentials, while I have a Master's Degree in Music Education from Queens College as of 2003, and was permanently Certified in teaching Music K-12 by 2005. Not only that, but I had been teaching piano since about 1985, and had a lifetime of music experience, such as playing viola in many different orchestras, and doing piano gigs such as clubs, restaurants, private affairs, etc. I had done recitals with my music students on Long Island since 1985. I played solo piano in 2 recitals at the Aaron Copland School of Music before I graduated in 2002. I was jazz pianist for Roland Hanna's Jazz workshop before he passed away. I had been playing violin and piano since I was 4 years old.

Still, there was Marilyn Hirschfield, "Observing" my violin class at Newbridge in February of 2005, equipped with all her Business Degrees. No doubt she had her much knowledge to impart to me as far as "growth" as an effective music teacher and District Orchestra Director of North Bellmore from 2002-2005. Principals do have those powers.

Marilyn Hirschfield did say that she took piano lessons when she was younger, but did not know the teacher's name, nor did she know if the teacher was a male or female. She also claimed to have graduated from some "Mt. Rose" college upstate, when in fact, it was Boces! All was devulged during her deposition. However, Marilyn saw herself "qualified" to criticize my violin instrumental music class methods and my teaching methods in general, even though her actual teaching experience is mostly in the pre-school and kindergarten level, if my memory is correct.

Note that in the comments at the bottom of the page, Marilyn instructs me to the "sequence of tuning instruments before playing should have been done to ensure proper sounds when playing." And, "Paying closer attention to time to ensure the lesson is within time limits should be followed."

I think that perhaps Marilyn should give a few seminars at Queens College to impart her natural, insightful genius in instrumental pedagogy, because I have never before been alluded to the wisdom she had imparted to me with such detailed critique of teaching my violin class! Indeed, I had much to learn from her to "grow" as a teacher. Things that she could only tell me. Things that no music professor at Queens could ever teach me!

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Marilyn's Hatchet Job page 3

Marilyn's Hatchet Job page 3

Marilyn's Hatchet Job Page 4

Marilyn's Hatchet Job Page 4

Whack-a-Lie

Whack-a-Lie

More Whack-a-Lie

More Whack-a-Lie

Whack -A-Mole

The above lies are just a few that North Bellmore has come up with to terminate me. It seems like the more years go by, the more the lies multiply. Let's go over some of these lies:

1) Mike Wolk and Marilyn Hirschfield said that I "excluded" a special ed child from my orchestra program. This is a total lie. This was stated on my 2004 End of Year Evaluation. Complete with lies that they both had "Observed" me, and thus came to this conclusion. However, that is also a lie, because no such observations exist.

2) Marilyn Hirschfield sent me my written "Observation" and in it, it stated in sum and substance that I "yelled" at her. This is rubbish. Why would me, a probationary teacher, yell at Hirschfield, of all people, when my tenure was at stake? Nevertheless, she has continued this lie for 11 years, in all legal proceedings, as to one of the reasons I was terminated.

3) Superintendent Mucci, since he was deposed in May, 2011, has continually lied about have an "All Administrators Meeting to Discuss my tenure decision". It never happened. Yet M. Hirschfield, Mike Wolk, Fran Bennett all supported Mucci in this grandiose LIE, in their 2011 depositions. In truth, he TERMINATED me in a SECRET Executive session AFTER the May 5th, 2005 board meeting. At the trial, he submitted 3 memos purporting to plan this alleged "tenure meeting". The only problem is that the date of the 3 e-mails is 7 months after such a meeting should have taken place. He wrote those e-mails at 5:45 am in the morning on September 19, 2005. On April 28, 2006, he took an actual e-mail that I wrote and made it sound like I was asking for a tenure meeting. Again, trying to cover his butt for his malfeasance. He also submitted this at trial, and again, "got over" the jury, because this must have been too complicated. Nevertheless, it is fraud, by no other name.

3) Some time around the end of 2005, after I was fired, Mucci misrepresented me again to the NYS Commissioner of Education that I had only one BAD 2004 Year End Evaluation, signed by Wolk and Hirschfield, and that's one of the reasons I was terminated. However, he hid the fact that I had another glowing evaluation from Fran Bennett, which was my home school, where I spent 50% of my time, and where I had rehearsals.

4) In 2011, in her deposition, Marilyn Hirschfield invented a new one, and said that one of the reasons I was terminated was because I called a Special Ed kid "clumsy". Perhaps she was feeling that all these stupid reasons were pretty flimsy to fire me, so she made that one up on the spot.

5) In 2011, Mike Wolk also came up with a new one, say that I"excluded" a child who had Asbergers' Syndrome. Although this gem had never been documented and I'm sure he came up with that one spontaneously. Probably thinking that all these "reasons" to terminate me, were sounding pretty lame, and he needed something more severe as to the reasons I was fired.

I will continue tomorrow.

My Orchestra - More Lies

At the trial, Rondeine Novitz, of Cruser Mitchell represented to the jury that my orchestra was very "small". In fact, by the document she posted on the overhead to the jury, my orchestra had about 9 people! Then she compared this to a concert program list of orchestra members of my predecessor, which was very likely typed up by Tony Cincotta, who was the former principal of SawMill showing approximately 90 members in her orchestra. I had no such administrative help with my orchestra printed programs, and no supervisor either, as my predecessor did. Thus, fair game for the predator administrators. Thus, strongly suggesting to the jury in Federal Court that I was a bad teacher by displaying this entirely false representation of the "numbers" in my orchestra. That my predecessor had 90 members in HER orchestra, and I had 9!

It must be noted here, that at no time during my employment at North Bellmore did anyone complain to me about "numbers". But here they were at trial, making up yet another lie about why they terminated me.

The false representation that Novitz made had to do with pumping up the list with fourth graders who were actually NOT in the concert. Fourth grade was used to learn the basics on string instruments. Therefore they were not in the concerts, therefore what they showed the jury was a puffed up concert program list, which INCLUDED fourth graders. In fact, 90 kids could not even FIT on the stage! Only 30-40 kids could fit on the typical elementary school stage! But the jury didn't know that!

Since I had to make up my own schedule, what Novitz displayed to the jury as my "orchestra" was a draft from the beginning of the year and I had only filled in the schedule for one day. The remaining days were yet to be filled. But for the jury to look at that schedule in progress, it looked like I was doing nothing for the other 5 days, and I was a big goof off, and THAT'S why I was a bad teacher, and THAT's why I was fired!! Marilyn testified and confirmed this distortion at the trial and said that my orchestra was "Very Small". Because the only time Marilyn was not lying was when her lips were not moving.

Below is a picture of my orchestra at North Bellmore. I was really proud of those kids, and my orchestra. It does not contain fourth graders, that I taught everyday in my classes throughout the district, because fourth graders were not yet in the orchestra concerts or rehearsals, because they had to learn the basics first. This also gave them motivation to practice and learn their instrument - the excitement of joining the orchestra - or so I thought. Mike Wolk and Marilyn Hirschfield distorted it into my "Exclusion" of special ed kids, so that they could terminate me.

North Bellmore knew how to turn beautiful things such as this into that which is ugly!

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North Bellmore Orchestra 2004

North Bellmore Orchestra 2004

My Orchestra

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June 21, 2016

This was my orchestra. I was thrilled with what we had accomplished, how the kids were working together, the unique little bus tour around the district that had become a tradition, the kids in the fourth grade looking forward to being in the orchestra the following year, the way the orchestra kids made announcements and performed little skits before the concerts to increase the sense of drama and increase public speaking skills, the arrangements that I had written for them, like Can-Can, and Pachebel's Cannon - simple, but far more musically satisfying for the kids than playing the basic Hot Cross Buns!

With all my education and experience, we survived and even thrived despite being basically ignored and with very minimal supervisory assistance. In fact it was like a fighting a resistance when it came to trying to explain things like - why it was necessary to schedule 8 district concerts a year proactively, to avoid overlaps with all the other activities on the calendar. The person who was assigned to do this, with the computerized administrative calendar, didn't have the skills to do this! With an Arts Director or Music Chairman, problems such as these would not exist! North Bellmore, with its condescending attitude towards me as well as Music, was too arrogant, and too ignorant to think they needed a music chairman or arts director, even though every other district I had known had one. Why would they need an Arts Director, when they had Marilyn Hirschfield, they probably thought. Yet, in their pretentious way, wanted to brag about their "String Program".

But I can't help think what it could have been, had North Bellmore respected music in general, let alone a string orchestra program. If they had realized what music and a string orchestra could contribute to a child's whole education.

How great it would have been if the string concerts were included in the morning announcements, like the band concerts were! How great it would have been to have the respect and cheering team as the band had! How great it would have been if the principals took pride in their kids achievements and promoted the string concerts when the string students from the entire district came to their building. One principal, like Marilyn Hirschfield, did not even show up for a district concert in their own building! How great it could have been if concerts were scheduled competently, and parents and children did not have to deal with constantly changing dates, inconvenience and confusion, and even missing concerts! How great we could have been if special education kids could have been identified, and music lessons could have been adapted to their special needs, by the music teacher, who just MIGHT have some knowledge about that! How great our orchestra could have been if the administration did not act defensively, as an adversary to me as an older, competent teacher and worked to promote the orchestra for all that it could contribute to a child's education, instead.

Maybe it all has to do with general condescending attitude toward music in general. Although Educational Law says that all teachers should get IEPs, North Bellmore said, even at the trial, that Music teachers, don't have to get them. What are music teachers, a lower species on the educational food chain? According to NB, the IEP team is a group somewhere outside the music class, where others determine what kids should go into instrumental string class, the lowly music teacher, however educated, should not be consulted. Something like which kids should get free lunch, and which kids should not.

There was also the issues of kids missing music lessons. Unlike the band, the orchestra had very few music lessons during the year. However, with Principals like Marilyn Hirschfield, things like "Spirit Day" or other activities in her building always took precedence over the few music lessons they had. Seems like string orchestra class was the lowest priority.

North Bellmore was also ignorant of Music Education and the credentials involved. My masters degree involved every course and internship of a regular teacher, but then many, many more music related courses, which were obviously beyond their comprehension. Why else would they think Marilyn Hirschfield, who doesn't know if the piano has more than 20 keys, why would they think she is perfectly equipped to "Observe" and critique my instrumental teaching class Methods? Their attitude is like much of the rest of the world today, where Math and the Sciences RULE and music is nothing more than "fluffing pillows". They accused me of "faking my credentials" because it seemed like they couldn't even read my Queens College transcript. Maybe they thought it was to complicated.

Yes, I believe this orchestra could have been great, really spectacular with the support of the North Bellmore Staff. As you read this book, it is not hard to realize that they were anything but supportive. Because Music is low priority in the Schools, and North Bellmore is prime example of that!

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Administrative Bullying

Administrative Bullying

Administrative Bullying

If you have read this so far, I am sure you can agree that what I experienced at North Bellmore and in the 11 years afterwards, in the hands of it's administrators, was nothing but HARASSMENT AND BULLYING!

At first, starting at the end of 2004 with Marilyn Hirschfield and Wolk barging unannounced into my classroom at Park Avenue for a "Meeting" regarding a special ed kid who broke their violin. My students were deprived of their violin lessons that day and Wolk said that if I didn't agree to meet with the mother of the child with the broken violin, that I would be deemed "insubordinate". Marilyn, however, said it would not be necessary - she had got what she wanted - they took back the report card that I was writing, I believe to make it look like the special ed kid was never allowed in my class!!! Then they lied and said that I "excluded" her.

Incidentally, Randee Coulter, my union rep, told me that I should have had a union rep at such a meeting. Too late for that, wasn't it?

What has the last 11 years of litigation been but administrative bullying? Was I treated like any other younger teacher? Was I given observations and year end evaluations that were needed for tenure like any other younger teacher? Or was I given a "Hatchet Job" by Marilyn a little more than a month before Mucci handed me his "recommendation for Termination". Did I have a supervisor or mentor, to defend me against the other administrators such as Marilyn, such as other teachers had? Did I get IEPs like the other younger teachers did? Did I have competent help with scheduling like other younger teachers?

In my three probationary years at North Bellmore, as you read this, can you spot any way or any instance in which North Bellmore helped me in my position, or "helped" me as a new teacher? The CBA does not indicate all "teachers, except older ones".

Article XV of the CBA also states:

"The teacher and the Board encourage able and promising students to enter the teaching profession".

It does not state, "except the older ones".

It also states, "The teacher receives from the administrator candid appraisal of the teacher's work and help with any problems, the Board requires such supervisory assistance".

Again, it does not state, "except for the older teachers".

If you had been present at my trial, except for the extremely favorable testimony of Larry Anderson, Principal of Gunther school at North Bellmore School District for 22 years, who said that, he in fact,would have recommended my tenure, you would see that my trial was nothing but a Administrative Bullying Fest, by no other name.

Marilyn's "Observation:

Seems like my readership has plummeted after I posted Marilyn's diabolical "Observation". Nobody likes to read horror stories, including me. I made a mistake by posting it because it has plunged me into physical episodes of PTSD - as did the Verdict, as did the necessity of me being in the presence of Mucci and Hirschfield, each time they were testifying in the past - at PERB (Mucci) at depositions, and finally at the trial.

Each time they "got over" and won, even with in-your-face evidence to the contrary - because my story is too unbelievable. For School Districts to do this to a human being is also unthinkable, and people are in denial and that's how they get over on everybody.

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The Price you are willing to pay

School Administrators are a special "type". They thrive on ego. When the chips are down, they will lie, steal and kill to protect their own, like any honest American family. They are like prostitutes who will do the bidding of their masters lest they risk losing their esteemed positions and cuddly-cozy retirements that await them $$$$. For this "loyalty" they will be duly rewarded. Empathy is a meaningless word. Those who do not follow the code will be destroyed. Teachers, if they have to be disposed of are irrelevant collateral damage.

Most lawyers, except mine, who is a rare exception, will defend anybody. That's their job, people say. They will defend their mother's murderer if the price is right $$$$$$.

School district lawyers are the most loathsome of all. Say anything, lie, steal, whatever you say you know you will have backing. Have "white-out," will travel. The insurance company has your back. You are happiest while you are in litigation, like pigs in mud, at $300 per hour, they are usually just sad it couldn't last longer. No brains required. They are not needed.